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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
August 25, 2026, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING

           Commission Chairman Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner Kristie Fiegen and Commissioner Gary Hanson; Commission Advisor Darren Kearney; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Staff Attorney Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson and Joseph Rezac; Public Utilities Manager Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; and Administrative Staff Joy Irving.

           Also present were Ellie Bailey and Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP representing Valley Telecommunications Cooperative Association, Inc., Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Bluepeak Fiber and South Dakota Telecommunications Association; and Brett Koenecke, May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson LLP representing MidAmerican Energy Company.

           Joining the meeting by telephone were Eric Kahler and Phillip Schnacky, West River Cooperative Telephone Company; Jeff Symens, Valley Telecommunications Cooperative; Marlene Bennett, Consortia Consulting, Inc. representing Valley Telecommunications Cooperative and Beresford Municipal Telephone Company; Austin Hansen, Beresford Municipal Telephone Company; Rick Gutierrez, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC; Chris Karn, Marc Krasney and Carolyn McCarthy, Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Bluepeak Fiber; Jason Keil, Black Hills Energy; Lori Brockhouse and Emily Willits, MidAmerican Energy Company.

           An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, August 25, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc08252026.mp3.

Administration

1.      Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on August 11, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)

        Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting held on August 11, 2026. Motion carried 3-0.

Consumer Reports

1.         Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)

            The Commission received a total of 47 contacts since the last report was prepared for the August 11, 2026, Commission meeting.

           Eight contacts were related to telecommunications services, 20 contacts were related to electric services, three contacts were related to wireless service, two contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry and Unwanted Calls, one contact was related to Wind Energy, one call was referred to South Dakota One Call and 12 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.

           930 of the 948 contacts received in 2026 have been resolved.

Telecommunications

1.      In the Matter of the Request for Certification Regarding the Use of Federal Universal Service Support in Dockets TC26-016, TC26-017, TC26-019, TC26-025 and TC26-029

           TC26-016                 In the Matter of the Request of West River Cooperative Telephone Company for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391689) (Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Mr. Eric Kahler, West River Cooperative Telephone Company requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Ms. Amanda Reiss, Staff attorney, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request. Mr. Kahler responded to Commissioners’ questions.

         TC26-017        In the Matter of the Request of Valley Telecommunications Cooperative Association, Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391685) (Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Ms. Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers LLP representing Valley Telecommunications Cooperative Association, Inc. requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Ms. Amanda Reiss, Staff attorney, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request.

         TC26-019        In the Matter of the Request of Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 395145) (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson)

         Mr. Rick Gutierrez, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Mr. Gutierrez responded to Commissioners’ questions.

         TC26-025        In the Matter of the Request of Beresford Municipal Telephone Company for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391649) (Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Ms. Marlene Bennett, Consortia Consulting, Inc. representing Beresford Municipal Telephone Company requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Ms. Amanda Reiss, Staff attorney, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request.

         TC26-029        In the Matter of the Request of Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Bluepeak Fiber for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: ILEC–391652 and CLEC–399006) (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)

         Ms. Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers LLP representing Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Bluepeak Fiber requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, Public Utilities Manager, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request.

            Commissioner Fiegen moved to provide a certification to the Federal Communications Commission and to the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the use of Federal Universal Service Support in each of the above dockets. Motion carried 3-0.

Electric

1.      EL26-015        In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of its Energy Adjustment Rider Modification (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, informed the Commission that Otter Tail Power Company requested the docket be deferred to a future commission meeting.

         Commissioner Nelson deferred the docket to a future commission meeting.

2.      EL26-024        In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Approval to Amend its Phase In Plan Rate (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess a filing fee for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date in the amount of up to $250,000 and give the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Mr. Jason Keil, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy did not object. Mr. Keil responded to Commissioner questions.

         Commissioner Hanson moved to assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $250,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date and authorize the Executive Director to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Motion carried 3-0.

Gas and Electric

1.      GE26-002       In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for Approval of a Revised Customer Information Welcome Booklet (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac)

         Mr. Derek Nelson, MidAmerican Energy Company, asked that the Commission approve MidAmerican Energy Company’s revised Customer Information Welcome Booklet. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the revised Customer Information Welcome Booklet with an approval date of August 31, 2026. Ms. Debb Gregg, Consumer Affairs Manager, Mr. Rezac, and Mr. Nelson responded to Commissioners’ questions.

         Commissioner Fiegen moved that the Commission approve the revised Customer Information Welcome Booklet with an approval date of August 31, 2026, with the removal of the PUC’S 800 number. Motion carried 3-0.

Rule Making

1.      RM26-001      In the Matter of the Adoption of Administrative Rules (Commission Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

         A public hearing was held regarding the proposed rules.  Mr. Brett Koenecke, representing South Dakota Electric Utilities, and Ms. Ellie Bailey, representing South Dakota Telecommunications Association, offered comments in support of the proposed rules.  The detailed minutes will be provided separately on LRC’s Form 10, pursuant to the requirements of SDCL 1-26-4 and the Legislative Research Council.

            Commissioner Nelson moved to adopt the proposed rules as filed on August 17, 2026. Motion carried 3-0.

           There being no further business, at the hour of 10:04 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.

                                                                                                                                      
  /s/ Janeth A. Merriman                 .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
August 25, 2026